Crop This! An N.C. Ag Photo Challenge

Two men and a boy stand behind a fence on a farm.
The winner of the Crop This! Photo Contest for the month of May comes from Melissa Kilpatrick of Wayne County, capturing three generations on their Seven Springs farm. From left, Trey Kilpatrick (father), Tuck Kilpatrick (son) and Sonny Kilpatrick (grandfather) are pictured with a baby goat at Sonnydale Farms. The three are Thomas Franklin Kilpatrick II, III and IV.

Our monthly photo contest, Crop This!, looks to highlight agriculture across North Carolina. Through your images, we hope to tell the story of our state's diverse and rich agricultural roots. The winning photos are shared here, in the monthly Agricultural Review newspaper and on our social media. Each month, we'll announce a theme focusing on a scene you might find on a working farm, agritourism destination or agribusiness venture. We challenge you to find or take a photo that fits the theme and submit it!

Each month's winner will also be considered for the 2026 Crop This! Photo of the Year. The Photo of the Year winning photographer will receive a prize pack of NCDA&CS and Got to Be NC goodies!

Send your photos to us at ncdablog@gmail.com. Include your name, county and a brief description of your photo!

Original, amateur photography only. Open to North Carolina residents. By submitting a photo, you grant permission for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to reproduce, publish and use your photo in department publications, online and on social media. Full Terms & Conditions below.

Tab/Accordion Items

An angus bull calf pictured in a field with his mom.
April 2026 Crop This! Winner: One-day-old purebred Black Angus bull calf pictured with his mom. Photographed by Sarah Cartwright, Perquimans County, R&S Angus Beef, LLC
 

 

June theme: We all Scream for N.C. Ice Cream, deadline May 15 

July theme: Farmers Market Finds, deadline June 15

August theme: Farm Weddings, deadline July 15

September theme: Catch of the Day (Eating, catching, cooking N.C. seafood), deadline August 15

Terms and conditions: 

Entries must be an original amateur photo only. One entry per household. The winning photo(s) each month will be entered into a year-long contest with the overall winning photo selected from all submissions receiving a Got to Be NC Grand Prize Pack. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and its affiliates, divisions, employees, and authorized agents (collectively, the “Department”) retains reprint rights.  Authorization, Release, and Waiver Agreement for Use of Photograph, Image, or Video: Without expectation of compensation or other remuneration, now or in the future, I, the Submitter, hereby grant to the Department a perpetual, royalty-free license to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use at its discretion the submitted photograph, image, or video (the “Submission”) in Department publications (including, but not limited to, traditional, online, and social media publications) and for outreach efforts.  This grant also includes, but is not limited to: (a) permission to use my name; and (b) if I am a farm owner or animal owner, then per N.C.G.S. 106-24.1, permission to release information that may be used to identify a person or private business entity subject to regulation by the Department for only the limited purposes as described in this paragraph. This grant does not require prior approval by me.  I own and/or hold the copyright for the Submission, including the right to authorize the Department to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the Submission; and I have secured a release from any person(s) featured visually or audibly in the Submission, which permits me to authorize the Department to reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the Submission.  I waive any and all claims that I, my minor children, my personal representatives, heirs, successors, executors, administrators, assigns, agents, next of kin, and any person(s) featured visually or audibly in the Submission may have resulting from the use of the Submission.  I represent that I am at least 18 years old [Note: if you are not at least 18 years old, you must have a parent or legal guardian submit the Submission].  Privacy: Unless independently submitted and approved by Submitter, the Department will not use Submitter’s provided phone and email information for any purpose other than to contact and communicate with Submitter about the Submission.

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